107th Airlift Wing honors former US president

News: 107th Airlift Wing honors former US president

New York National Guard

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Story by Senior Master Sgt. Raymond Lloyd Subscribe To This Journalist

Senior Master Sgt. Raymond Lloyd

Col. Kevin Rogers, maintenance commander of the New York Air National Guard's 107th Airlift Wing, placed the wreath on behalf of President Barack Obama at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, N.Y., Jan. 7, 2013 (Air National Guard Photo/Senior Master Sgt Ray Lloyd)

BUFFALO, N.Y. - A wreath was laid at the Western New York gravesite of former U.S. President Millard Fillmore to commemorate the 213th anniversary of his birth.

Col. Kevin Rogers, maintenance commander of the New York Air National Guard's 107th Airlift Wing, placed the wreath on behalf of President Barack Obama at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, N.Y., Jan. 7, 2013.

The U.S. military honors former presidents by laying wreaths sent by the current president. Fillmore the 13th president of the United States was a co-founder of the University at Buffalo and school's first chancellor and was also instrumental in starting Buffalo General Hospital and the city's libraries and museums.

“It’s and honor and privilege to do this on behalf of the President Barack Obama and the White House,” said Col. Kevin Rogers.

The university has conducted a memorial ceremony annually since 1937. The United States Military honors former presidents by laying wreaths sent by the current president at their gravesites on the anniversary of their birth. Fillmore was born in Western New York Jan. 7, 1800. He died in 1874.

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